Team SpiderTech p/b C10 Directeur Sportif Steve Bauer discusses Stage 1 of the 3 Days of West Flanders, where Svein Tuft continues to hold onto fourth in the standings, with one stage to go. Tuft and and the two riders ahead of him are all ten seconds behind race leader Jesse Sergent (RadioShack).

"Our plan was to be attentive in the first 80 km of the stage until the feed zone - after which we expected the race to open up. The race played out exactly as we expected. Our main objective was to protect Svein Tuft's overall classification position and if the opportunity arose take advantage of a stage performance for either Keven Lacombe or Martin Gilbert."

"In the end we are happy to have conserved Svein's GC position and not disappointed to miss an opportunity at the finish. It was a very hard day and our guys suffered."

"We expect tomorrow's stage to be much more difficult than today. The course crosses the Kemmelberg which is very hard and features in the final of the World Tour race: Ghent-Wevelgem. Our goal for the final stage will be the same as today - be attentive at the key sectors, protect Svein Tuft's fourth position and look for opportunities to win the stage or move Svein up in the overall classification."